Patriots' Rob Gronkowski improving, hopeful for quick return

Thursday

Sep 5, 2013 at 6:00 AM

It was a surgery-filled offseason for Rob Gronkowski as the Patriots' All-Pro tight end had his back operated on in mid-June after three procedures on his twice-fractured and subsequently infected left forearm earlier in the year.

By Rich Garven TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

It was a surgery-filled offseason for Rob Gronkowski as the Patriots' All-Pro tight end had his back operated on in mid-June after three procedures on his twice-fractured and subsequently infected left forearm earlier in the year.

While his teammates participated in training camp and four preseason games in front of thousands of fans, Gronkowski maintained a low profile. With one exception, he did all his rehabilitation work with the team's trainers and medical staff in private and out of sight.

It was a lonely existence for the outgoing player universally and affectionately known as "Gronk."

"It was difficult, but I'm past all that," a clearly relaxed Gronkowski said Wednesday while speaking publicly about his health and football future for the first time in eight months.

"Today is a new day and all I can do is look forward. I'm not thinking about the past anymore, that's all in the past. The only thing I can do now is improve and get out there."

Gronkowski was out there with his teammates for the first time this summer Sunday, taking part in a padded practice. It was the same thing Monday and, following a scheduled day off Tuesday for all the players, Wednesday, when he once again donned full pads.

They were the three latest steps forward in a cautious and closely monitored rehab process. Although he indicated he has no concerns as his participation level increases, Gronkowski — like all Patriot players, per order of Bill Belichick — wouldn't divulge how close he is to being 100 percent healthy.

"I really don't think about percentages like that when my body is (involved)," he said. "The only thing I'm focused on is improving every day and if I'm improving every day and I'm moving in the right direction then that's all you can ask for."

A general timetable for a return from the back surgery that Gronkowski had — one his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, termed "preventative maintenance" in May — is 12 weeks. When the Patriots open the season against the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday it will have been 82 days — or two days shy of 12 weeks — since Gronkowski last found himself on an operating table.

Gronkowski didn't hesitate when asked if he's had any setbacks since training camp began in July, responding with a resounding "nope." Despite apparently being on schedule, he made it clear he has never circled a certain date on his calendar.

"It doesn't matter about what that says," Gronkowski said of a standard recovery time prognosis. "It just matters about how your body feels, how the rehab program is going and how you're progressing every day. So just look forward every day.

"I'm not counting by since when my surgery was and I'm coming back that day. No, I don't work like that. The trainers don't work like that. We just work day by day."

First-year Bills coach Doug Marrone said he would prepare his team as if Gronkowski would play Sunday. Same goes for New England's leading returning receiver.

"Do I expect to play Sunday?" Gronkowski asked, lobbing that very question back at a media member. "I'm preparing every single day to the maximum of my ability and preparing every day to do the best I can. When my number is called, then that's when I'll play. I couldn't tell you when that would be."

Still, hardly anyone expects to see No. 87 running, blocking and catching on the turf at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Or, for that matter, four days later when the Patriots host the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium.

A more reasonable assumption is for Gronkowski to return when the Patriots host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 22 in Week 3. That would not only allow for more healing time from his surgeries, but for the 6-foot-6, 265-pound defense destroyer to get into football shape.

"I'm just rehabbing everything," Gronkowski said. "I need the whole body strong and I just need to keep on grinding and working on all aspects of the body in order to get back out there. And it's not just the forearm and back.

"Obviously when you take off that much time you have to get conditioned again, you have to get stronger throughout your whole body — your legs, your upper body, your arms. So that's all in play too."